Why you should make useless things | Simone Giertz

In this joyful, heartfelt talk featuring demos of her wonderfully wacky creations, Simone Giertz shares her craft: making useless robots. Her inventions -- designed to chop vegetables, cut hair, apply lipstick and more -- rarely (if ever) succeed, and that's the point. "The true beauty of making useless things [is] this acknowledgment that you don't always know what the best answer is," Giertz says. "It turns off that voice in your head that tells you that you know exactly how the world works. Maybe a toothbrush helmet isn't the answer, but at least you're asking the question."

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more.

[thinthle]

Because as we all know the easiest way to be at the top of your field is to choose a very small field. ~Simone Giertz 2018

[ATM]

At the time of this talk, she had a golf ball sized brain tumor, and just about three weeks after this she had brain surgery to remove it. And she still delivered this inspiring talk about shity robots. She is incredible!

[pojo_quiet]

Simone: *gets asked if she's ever going to build something useful*
Simone: *buils TRUCKLA*

[weesalikesmilktea]

that googly eyes shirt is actually lowkey really frickin cute

[CMSixSeven]

Hey, Simone, future here. You built Truckla. Great job.

[dragonk]

Man, this viewpoint is really something. I'm not an engineer, but I am studying science, and I'm also an artist. The notion of this fearless creativity, a way to defeat performance anxiety and the need to succeed at everything which a lot of us (myself included) deal with, is really powerful I think.

[despicablepenguin]

She should be a fashion designer because I want that shirt

[merlina]

the purpose of this talk is don't be boring, don't be scare, play, do what you want, and with practice maybe you get there, if not, you had fun in the process and you lived

[TheBitGuy]

I admire her because she actually wants to use her brain to do things that are constructive and learn about things. It seems so many today are content to let everyone else do their thinking for them.

[CableGirl]

I’ve been watching TEDx talks for years trying to get inspiration about where to go in my life. How ironic is it that this useless talk probably has had the most substantial difference on me? 🤔☺️

[aashni]

"Isn't it a beautiful time to be alive?" :') This woman is AWESOME 😍

[conan_chen]

If your goal is failing and:

You succeed at failing, then you have succeeded

If you fail at failing, that means you have also succeded technically
It's a win win!

Simone!!! we're rooting for you girl!!

[marymiller]

"Sold to the nervous girl in the googly eye shirt" this is making my day.

[MoaisNotmyname]

I'm tearing up. That was me. Her past self was just like I was, and to be honest I still am. Performance anxiety is one of the worst feelings, because it holds you back from doing these incredible things you know you will enjoy. I still struggle with it every day, being a student and all, but I'm going to take Simone's words to heart because this is incredible. I might not be able to make useless robots (yet), but perhaps I can start at my struggle with making art and perhaps make a useless drawing OF a robot. Just because it's fun.

[samsmullen]

Thank you Simone. I'm a baby boomer and an engineer. You have shown me the enthusiasm that was missing in my life. I realized I lived my life as a robot instead of designing and building a robot. You inspired me to built useless things.

[MirorRflction]

Simone is incredible because she has rediscovered the artistic/creative side of engineering that is lost on so many. I love what your doing for Engineering Simone and I really hope you have a good recovery from your upcoming surgery that you talked about in your last video :)

[ekelly]

This is why I’m taking maths and physics for engineering next year, I’m scared of being the only girl, but I love making things and want to make school fun

[matnovak]

I like how this is an even split between a stand-up routine and a very useful lecture on creative design

[diegosierra]

"I'm not an engineer"
Oh I'm afraid you are indeed. You may just not have an engineering degree.